Moscow-born conductor Alexander Vedernikov will be starting off the 2019-2020 opera season proudly wearing his new title of Music Director and Principal Conductor of St. Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre.

He is a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, and the son of famous Russian bass Alexander Filipovich Vedernikov and organist Natalia Gureeva.

Vedernikov’s first challenge in this new role will be, according to Artistic Director Vladimir Kekhman, “‘developing the orchestra to a new level and making it as recognizable a brand as the Mikhailovsky Theatre’s ballet and opera companies.'”

Vedernikov has served as Chief Conductor of the Royal Danish Opera and Odense Symphony Orchestra, and as Music Director and Chief Conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre, “during which time he was credited with rebuilding the Bolshoi Theatre’s historical reputation for artistic excellence.” During his years at the Bolshoi he also developed a program of symphonic concerts to feature the orchestra.

Additionally, he founded the Russian Philharmonia symphony orchestra and served as its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.

He has conducted at some of the world’s most distinguished opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Bastille Opera, La Scala, Opera di Roma, Komische Oper Berlin, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Royal Stockholm Opera, to name a few.

Vedernikov will be conducting “Eugene Onegin” at the Deutsche Oper Berlin this March, and his first project as Music Director at the Mikhailovsky Theatre will be “Aida.”